Taoiseach: Flood damaged hospital will remain closed for a long time

Damage caused by torrential rain described as 'very serious'

Flood damage at a Letterkenny General Hospital hospital caused by torrential rain means it will be closed for a long time, the Taoiseach said today.

Health Minister James Reilly visited the hospital today to survey the damage after serious flooding on Friday forced staff to shut the emergency department, which is to remain closed throughout the week.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that the damage was much worse than originally thought and that the hospital would remain closed for a long time.

“I spoke to the Minister for Health this evening who visited the hospital with personnel. He gave me a blow-by-blow account of what happened here.

"This is very substantial, records lost MRI, diagnostics, laboratory walls to be de-plastered and de-contaminated.

“This is far more serious than was first thought. It means effectively that Letterkenny is out of operation for a considerable time and that means calling on the assistance in respect of Derry, Enniskillen, Sligo and the community and there may be some other alternatives that have to be considered as well.”

Local Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh said: “I am aware from speaking with some of the hospital staff over the weekend that this is a very traumatic time for the staff.

“The damage caused by the flooding is very serious, and I commend hospital management and staff for a very swift response to the crisis.”

He said the health minister has committed to working “step-by-step” with Letterkenny General as it recovers from the damage caused.

Emergency patients are continuing to be diverted to Sligo Regional Hospital and Altnagelvin Hospital, in nearby Co Derry.

Letterkenny also remains closed to visitors.

Elective inpatient and day case surgery for Monday and Tuesday will be rescheduled to a later date.

Endoscopy, physiotherapy and cardiac investigation appointments, and radiology appointments will also be postponed to a later date.

The hospital was forced to declare an emergency situation after torrential rain flooded a number of different areas, leaving them damaged and soiled.

Areas worst hit by the flooding on Friday evening included the emergency department, and the radiology, outpatients, pathology and medical records departments.